Lamp.



No. 887,468. PATENTED MAY 12, 1908. R. M. DIXON.

LAMP

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UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

ROBERT M. DIXON, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO SAFETY CAR HEATING & LIGHTING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 12, 1908.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. DIXON, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates broadly to illuminating apparatus, and specifically to gas-burning apparatus of the type adapted to be mounted in pendent relation and having an inverted mantle.

One object of this invention is to provide an illuminating apparatus especially adapted for transportation service, which will radiate a minimum amount of heat into the interior of the car, and. which will be so disposed with relation to the woodwork of the car that the latter will be insulated against becoming unduly heated through the utilization of mov ing currents of air which will act as a conveyer for any excess heat.

Another object within the contemplation of this invention is to provide an illuminating apparatus which will, in case of a downdraft through the chimney, permit the dissipation of the products of combustion directly into the car and thereby prevent any material change of direction of the air used for combustion purposes, so that the lamp may burn uniformly.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of ele ments and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a general sectional elevation of one embodiment of this invention showing the general arrangement and formation of the various elements comprising the same and showing the mounting of the whole with respect to the roof of a railroad car; Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section underlying the plane containing line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the channels leading through the lamp body into the chimney; Figs. 3 and 4 show an outside elevation and transverse section respectively of the hinge for enabling the globe supporting ring to be swung relatively to the burner; Figs. 5 and 6 show a vertical section and outside elevation respectively of the latch provided for normally maintaining the globe and supporting ring in closed relation.

Turning now to the accompanying drawings showing the invention as applied to a railroad car, 1 denotes the upper panel of the roof of a car, and 2 denotes the lower or interior panel of the same. Extending between the intcrior and exterior panels and protruding above the latter is an intake 3, which is preferably in the form of an elongated cylinder. This cylinder passes through suitable apertures in the said panels, and for the purpose of avoiding contact between the intake and the woodwork composing such panels the apertures are slightly greater in diameter than the intake cylinder, thereby providing annular spaces 4 and 5 respectively. This prevents overheating of the woodwork. While the intake may be thus positioned relatively to the panels through any preferred instrumentality, the heroin shown expedient is quite simple and well adapted to meet ordinary working conditions. This consists of an upper collar 6 having a hub secured to the cylindrical intake and having lateral flanges secured to and conforming in direction to the slo )e of the upper exposed panel of the car. t its lower end the cylindrical intake may be beaded, as shown by 7, and thus interlocked with an annular dished support 8, which may also provide an interposed packing 9 of asbestos or other suitable heat non-conducting material. Suitably spaced screws 10, whose heads are countersunk in a portion of the lamp and whose shanks pass through lugs 11, cause the latter to abut the dished member 8 and thereby hold it in place. This intake serves to supply the burner with fresh air, and is accordingly provided at its upper end with one or more suitable apertures '12, which in proportion to their number and size regulate and control the amount of air delivered to the burner. It will be understood that the air flowing through this intake descends in the normal operation of the device.

This invention also provides a chimney 13, which is preferably within the intake and is adapted to deliver the products of combustion upwardly and outwardly in such a manner that the incoming air may not be contaminated thereby. To this end the upper extremity of the chimney protrudes at a distance from the discharge of the intake, and is preferably provided with a suitable ventilator 14 for the purpose of obviating so far as possible any undesirable drafts or gusts of air. Preferably a depending bell or shield 15 is carried by the said chimney and covers the inlets of the intake so as to enable the incoming air to flow as steadily as possible and not be unduly influenced by the external currents caused by the rapid movements of the car. One or more braces 16 may be arranged between the bell and the intake to steady and add rigidity to the whole.

At its lower end the chimney has a relatively tight fit around the lamp body, and, to promote compactness and orderly arrangement of parts, a funnel-shaped section 17 may be utilized. A complementary funnelshaped section 18 is also arranged upon the intake, and has its lower end extended and secured in any desired manner to a flangeshaped annular'portion 19 of the lamp, for example by means of the intermediary 20. One of the purposes of this complementary section is to direct air both toward the inlets 21 of the lamp, as indicated by the small arrows, and also to supply the interior of the globe of the lamp with fresh air, which serves to wash the mantle and supply the burning gases surrounding the same with the neces sary amount of oxygen.

The lamp comprises a body portion 22 having inlets 21 leading to a mixing chamber 23, and a nozzle 24 leading to the mantle, and also provides passages 25 (see Fig. 2) which permit the escape of the products of combustion upwardly and into the chimney 13.

For the purpose of admitting additional air into the chimney, the funnel-shaped sections 17 and 13 are connected by tubes 26. In the normal operation of the apparatus, the air passing through said tubes 26 is drawn between the woodwork and the annular flange 19, as indicated by the arrow 27, thus insulating the woodwork from heat which might otherwise be thrown off said flange. While the air normally rises through these tubes, it may here be pointed out that, in case of a sudden gust of air from the exterior into thechimney, the greater part of the back-draft may return through said tubes and escape directly into the car, thus preventing the products of combustion from being forced back into the lamp and obviating varlatlons 1n luminosity due to the chokmg of the same. This, however, Wlll be more fully understood hereinafter.

While the mantle may be mounted on the burner end 1n various ways, I prefer to employ a detachable bulb of the type and construction described and broadly claimed in United States Patent No. 843,903. The herein shown embodiment of such bulb comprises a transparent shade 23, which also acts as a deflector and distributer of the incoming fresh air as well as the outgoing products of combustion, which latter pass upwardly through the lamp body, as indicated by arrows 29. The mantle 30 is here shown depending from the end of the burner nozzle and overlies the open bottom of the shade so as to be suitably washed by the currents of fresh air rising and flowing as indicated by arrows 31.

Surrounding the combined shade and mantle, or bulb as it may be termed, is a globe 32, which is preferably suspended at its upper end as indicated by the drawing. To this end, this invention proposes an annular ring 33 which is suitably hinged to the overlying horizontally extending flange or annular plate 19, which is in turn secured to the lamp body by means of one or more laterally extending members 34. Supported by the flange member 19 is a reflector 35, which is preferably enameled along its under surface so as to facilitate the proper distribution of light, and such reflector of course provides one or more apertures, indicated by the arrow 36, for the purpose of supplying the interior of the globe with fresh air. The flange member 19 will in practice be spaced away from the adjacent woodwork of the car, thereby providing a relatively narrow annular vent 37 for the passage of air to prevent conduction of undue heat from the burner to the woodwork.

It will of course be perceived that the swinging ring 33 may be hinged in various ways to the flange piece 19, but for purposes of convenience I have illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 a simple and effective mounting for the same. This comprises a leaf 38 which is suitably secured to the flange plate and has hinged to the same the swinging plate 33. The latch for restraining the swinging plate against movement has been illustraaed in Figs. 5 and 6, and comprises a swinging catch 39 pivoted at 40 to the flange plate 19 and normally urged into engaging position by a spring 41. Fig. 5 shows the latch in engagement with a section of the swinging plate 33.

lVhile the gas may be supplied to the lamp in any desired manner, it will be convenient to employ a vertical conduit 42 which centrally passes through the chimney and at its lower end is connected to the lamp body and at its upper end is coupled to the supply pipe 43. For the purpose of adding stiffness and rigidity to the whole, the vertical conduit 42, may also serve as a brace by connecting it to the upper plate of the ventilator 14 by means of lock nuts 44 and 45 which are tapped upon the conduit 42.

The operation of this invention, while largely apparent from the foregoing description, may be now b rielly restated for the sake of clearness: The gas for the burner is supplied through the conduit 42 and escapes in a fine stream from the nipple into the mixing chamber 23. The fresh air for said mixing chamber is received through the lateral ways 21, which at their outer ends terminate in the path of the fresh air which is flowing downwardly through the intake and which passes from said intake into the globe, downwardly intermediate the shade and the globe, and thence through the open bottom of the shade upwardly into the latter. This fresh air serves to wash the mantle and supply the burning gases with the requisite amount of oxygen, and the surplus, together with the products of combustion, rises through passages 25 in the lamp body directly into the overlying chimney 13 and from thence to the exterior of the car. The flow of the gases through chimney 13 creates a draft which causes fresh air to be drawn inwardly through the spaces 37, as indicated by arrow 27, and then upwardly through tubes 26 into the chimney, thus preventing the woodwork of the car from being overheated and promoting evenness and uniformity of the flow of currents. At times a strong gust may cause a temporary reversal in direction of the flow of the gases through chimney .13, and in such case the greater amount of the gases may then return through tubes 26 and into the car without materially interfering with the normal operation of the burner. This, as will be readily understood, is a valuable function because the reverse flow of the products of combustion into the lamp would tend to suffocate the flame and decrease its temperature and cause the mantle to undergo undesirable variations in luminosity.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An illuminating apparatus for a car having a roof, comprising in combination, a lamp having a burner depending from said roof, a chimney for receiving products of combustion and discharging the same exterior of said car, a conduit for supplying said burner with a combustible gas leading downwardly within said chimney from without said car whereby said conduit may be maintained in a heated condition, and an intake adapted to supply said burner with air from without said car.

2. An illuminating apparatus for a car, comprising in combination, a lamp having a burner, a globe, means for taking air from outside said car and passing it between the burner and globe whereby the radiation of heat may be diminished, a chimney for receiving and discharging outside said car the products of combustion, and a conduit for supplying said burner with a combustible gas leading downwardly within said chimney from without said car whereby said conduit may be maintained in a heated condition.

3. An illuminating apparatus for a car having a roof, comprising in combination, a lamp depending from said roof and having a burner, a chimney overly' 1g said burner and adapted to receive and discharge therefrom the products of combustion, said chimney inter'litting at its lower end with the body of said burner and extending contimiously upward to its point of discharge, and means for causing a current of air to llow between the lamp body and the car into said chimney, whereby the woodwork of the car will be insulated from the heat of the lamp.

4. An illuminating apparatus for a car, comprising in combination, a lamp mounted in close proximity to an inner part of said car, means for supplying said lamp with combustible gas, a chimney for receiving products of cmnbustion and discharging the same exterior of said car, an intake adapted to supply said lamp with air from without said car, said chimney interlitting at its lower end with the body of said burner and extending continuously upward to its point of discharge, and passageways leading from between the lamp and car to said chimney, whereby air may flow and prevent undue heating of the portions of the car adjacent said lamp.

5. An illuminating apparatus for a car having a roof, comprising in combination, a lamp having a burner, a globe, an intake for delivering air from outside said car and passing it between the burner and globe whereby heat radiated may be diminished, and a chimney for receiving and discharging the products of combustion outside said car, said chimney having between its upper and lower ends one or more channels in connnunication with the interior of the car.

6. An illuminating a]' paratus for a car having a roof, comprising in combination, a lamp depending from said roof and having a burner, an intake in communication with the exterior of said car and leading to said burner a chimney overlying said burner and adapted to receive and discharge the products of combustion therefrom, and means for causing a current of air to flow between the lamp body and the car directly into said chimney, without inter-mingling with the air in said. intake, whereby the woodwork of the car will be insulated from the heat of the lamp.

7. An illuminating apparatus for a car, comprising in combination, a lamp having a burner, means for supplying said burner with combustible gas, a chimney for receiving products of combustion and discharging the same exterior of said car, an intake adapted to supply said burner with air without said ear, and means for causing a current of air to {low from the interior of said car directly into said chimney between its upper and lower ends.

8. An illuminating apparatus for a car, comprising in combination, a lamp having a burner, a globe surrounding said burner, means for taking air from outside said car and passing it downwardly into said globe and along the inner surface thereof toward said burner, whereby heat radiated may be diminished, a chimney for receiving and discharging the products of combustion outside said car, and one or more conduits leading independently of said intake from the interior of said car into said chimney.

9. An illuminating apparatus for a car having a roof, comprising in combination, a lamp depending from said roof and having a burner, a closed globe surrounding said burner, an intake establishing communication between said globe and the exterior of said car, a chimney overlying said burner and adapted to receive and discharge the products of combustion therefrom, and means for causing a current of air to flow between the lamp body and the car directly into an intermediate portion of said chimney, whereby the woodwork of the car will be insulated from the heat of the lamp.

10. An illuminating apparatus for an inclosure having a wall or roof, comprising in combination, a lamp body having a burner depending from the interior of said inclosure, the adjacent portions of said lamp body being spaced away from the wall or roof, a chimney overlying said burner and extending to the outside of said inclosure, and independent communications between said chimney and the space between said lamp body and inclosure, whereby air may pass through said space and into said chimney for the purpose of insulating the woodwork from the heat of the lamp.

11. An illuminating apparatus for a car having a roof, comprising in combination, a lamp body having a burner depending from said roof but spaced a slight distance therefrom, a chimney overlying said burner and passing through said roof, and means for passing air through the space between said lamp body and car directly into said chimney and means for passing products of combustion from said lamp into said chimney.

12. An illuminating apparatus fora car, comprising in combination, a lamp body having a burner depending from the interior of said car, and a chimney in communication with said lamp body and terminating exteriorly of said car, said chimney having one or more vents independently communicating with the interior of said car.

13. An illuminating apparatus for a car having a roof, comprising in combination, a

depending lamp body having a burner and a mantle, a globe, a horizontally extending refiector positioned adjacent the upper edge of said globe, and an upright conduit overlying said reflector for supplying the burner of said lamp with a combustible gaseous mixture, a chimney directly connected with the body of said burner for discharging products of combustion and means for delivering fresh air toward the zoneof combustion.

14. An illuminating apparatus for a car having a roof comprising in combination, a burner having an inspirator, an upright gas conduit leading through the roof and secured at its lower end to the body of the burner, an elongated cylindrical shell surrounding said gas conduit adapted to enable the products of combustion to rise therethrough from said burner and heat said gas conduit, an elongated cylindrical intake circumscribing said shell and providing an annular channel for the downflow of fresh air, and an air inlet leading from said intake channel to the burner inspirator.

15. An illuminating apparatus for a car having a roof comprising in combination, a burner having an inspirator and a depending burner tube, a mantle mounted adjacent the lower end of said burner tube, an upright conduit leading through the roof and secured at its lower end to the body of the burner, an elongated cylindrical shell surrounding said gas conduit and terminating at its lower end adjacent the body of said burner, whereby the products of combustion therefrom may rise through said shell and maintain said gas conduit in a heated state, an elongated cylindrical intake circumscribing said shell and providing an annular channel for the downflow of fresh air, one or more channels opening a communication between the lower end of said shell and the interior of the car, and one or more air inlets leading from the channel of the intake to the burner of the inspirator whereby the latter may receive fresh air independently of the rising products of combustion.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT M. DIXON.

l/Vitnesses:

G. R. JEWETT, A. G. PREVIN. 

